‘Dance like no one is watching.’
Easy to say but hard to do if, like me, you’re the kind that gives Dad Dancing a bad name.
I blame years of confinement to an all boys boarding school for rendering me inept in any interaction with the fairer sex especially dancing.
I was fifteen years old before I had any regular contact with girls my own age and there is nothing more guaranteed to make a teenage boy feel tongue-tied and lead-footed than teenage girls who are inevitably far more mature in every way — and know it.
Also good dancers most often stride confidently to the middle of the floor and take a ‘look at me’ approach to things whereas on the very rare occasions I went to a dance I always preferred to hide against the wall and not be noticed.
As well, while intertwined choreography in the way of Fred Astaire and partners had a certain appeal, dancing that involved independent gyrations and occasional eye contact always lacked dignity to me.
It was hard to look cool when you dance like a fool.
Such was the level of my terror that, much to the amusement of my pals, I once fled from a dancehall because a gorgeous woman approached me for a dance and I did not want to embarrass either of us.
While I’m pleased to say I have long since learned to converse comfortably with women, I remain pretty much dance-averse to this day. So you might wonder why I should write a song called ‘Get Up and Dance’.
Well, like so many of my songs, the thought is metaphorical. I’m simply saying it can often be a good thing to step out of your comfort zone.
And to be fair to myself, I’ve done so often in life — stepped out of my comfort zone to explore some possibility or another — and something wonderful has ensued.
It’s just that, to date, I haven’t done so on the dance floor.
But I never say ‘never’, and neither should you.
I hope you enjoy the song. If you do please share with your friends. Thank you.